Estate to Plate - A Gourmet Indulgence
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*Please note: Due to Government Regulations and social distancing requirements, the location of the experience may differ slightly from below*
* Pricing changes to $520 per couple from 01 April 2023 *
A guided exploration of our 75-acre estate in Red Hill will show you the best of the seasonal cycle at Montalto.
Montalto combines a working vineyard and olive grove, kitchen gardens, fruit orchard and berry plantation with a commitment to the arts and an extensive sculpture collection, home to the famous Montalto Sculpture Prize, among the most valuable private sculpture prizes in Australia.
This is a unique visitor experience during any season of the year. You could taste the grapes around vintage, learn how Montalto grow and make use of seasonal produce or explore the property’s natural wetlands and extensive permanent sculpture collection.
Experience Montalto’s ‘Estate to Plate’ philosophy with a guided walk through the estate kitchen gardens. A passion for seasonal, locally grown produce has seen Montalto kitchen gardens expand to almost four acres in recent years. Explore the expansive gardens and learn how our growers and Montalto kitchen work hand in hand to maximise the natural bounty of the
estate. After the Kitchen Garden walk is a guided, seated tasting, with panoramic views overlooking Montalto’s Red Hill vineyards, featuring Single Vineyard and Estate wines that truly reflect the cool climate location of the vines and of such quality that they are recognised as a “Red Five Star” Halliday rated winery.
Finally, experience Montalto’s estate to plate philosophy in action, with a celebratory multi-course tasting experience with award-winning wines. Montalto dining focuses on produce from the estate and the region is honoured with the menus that are built around it, grab a table overlooking the breathtaking views – either in the stylish, covered courtyard or amongst the lush kitchen gardens.
After lunch, you are welcome to continue your exploration of the property, with a self-guided tour of the estate’s natural wetlands and an extensive permanent sculpture exhibition.
The perfect gift for any die-hard foodie, the Montalto Estate to Plate Gift Voucher is an experience out of the ordinary.
We are delighted to confirm your ‘Estate to Plate’ reservation. Please arrive to our Restaurant entrance 5 minutes before your booking.
We look forward to welcoming you to experience a moment out of the ordinary at Montalto, to share our story and connect you to the source of what we do here on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula. The Montalto connection runs right through our estate including our extensive kitchen gardens, seasonal menus and award-winning wines.
Your ‘Estate to Plate’ experience commences at 10.30am with a tour of our kitchen gardens, followed by a guided wine tasting in our Alto Wine Room. This elevated space is perched high above the estate with floor to ceiling windows framing panoramic views across the vineyards to the wetlands and beyond.
Following your tasting, it’s time to enjoy a multi-course lunch with matched wines in the Montalto restaurant. The menu is ever-changing – based on the bounty of the Montalto estate gardens and the aquaculture of the area, together with the very best seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
If you have not already, please notify us of any dietary requirements or preferences as advance notice of 48 hours will ensure that your needs are catered for. You can contact us directly on (03) 59898412, 7 days a week 10 am – 3 pm, or, simply reply to this email. We will do our best to accommodate any requirements that arise on the day, but this may be limited.
Booked with a gift certificate? Please ensure to bring this on the day otherwise it is not a valid form of payment.
Kind Regards,
Montalto
Taxi transport is limited in our area, so we suggest contacting a local and reliable service called Your Shuttle on (03) 5989 2929, www.yourshuttle.com.au
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Upon arrival, we double checked that this was still the case and wait staff agreed that we could walk across to the cellar door after lunch. We did so and we were told it was booked out, we may be able to get a table in twenty minutes. We stood awkwardly in the thoroughfare in the meantime as it was raining heavily with little indication whether we would actually get a table. The staff member who advised us of this was incredibly dismissive, condescending and rude, even when we told her we had asked about booking. We tried to explain the situation several times but she didn’t listen, going to the extent of talking to another staff member about us within earshot, which was very unprofessional.
We really enjoyed our lunch - the food was delicious and most staff were warm and friendly. However, there is clear miscommunication between the casual dining staff and the cellar door which made us feel uneasy and disappointed on what should have been a special afternoon.
 
 The ambience in the restaurant was great, quiet and refined, very different from the hustle and busyness of the casual pizza dinning area.Both have merit in there own right.
The food I couldnt fault, well considered, light,fresh and clean.Delightfully only one fried dish.Fresh ingredients executed with cooking precision , beautiful presentation and certainly didnt dissappoint.The dessert finale was superb.Highly reccommend.
Bit of a vibe kill. Holiday with friends and mood dropped coming here. Staff (especially English manager) particularly disengaged and rude. Anything was too much. Made us feel uncomfortable & nothing worse than that when you’re away with friends and choose the wrong Vineyard..
There’s definitely an undercurrent of misery amongst the employees here and I hope that people wake up to this place as I feel it doesn’t represent the best of the Mornington.
Food was reasonably priced for the quality 125AUD + 15% weekend for the set menu.
From the moment we arrived at Montalto Estate, we were welcomed with warmth and enthusiasm. Mark’s exceptional meet-and-greet set the stage for what would be a truly immersive experience—one filled with world-class wine, stunning surroundings, and a farm-to-table philosophy that elevated everything we tasted.
The Setting & Experience:
Montalto is more than just a winery; it’s an experience that engages all the senses. The rolling vineyards, sculpture-dotted gardens, and breathtaking views created an atmosphere of pure relaxation. The estate’s market garden and homegrown produce featured prominently in the restaurant’s menu, offering an authentic farm-to-table dining experience that paired beautifully with the wines.
However, our visit came with an extra layer of drama—our friend Mike, who had recently sworn off drinking, bravely accompanied us. Watching him navigate this wine-lover’s paradise while abstaining was akin to taking a heroin addict on a guided tour of opium dens. Every swirl, sip, and sigh of appreciation from us must have felt like exquisite torture. But to his credit, he held strong—though his wistful glances at our glasses suggested that deep down, he was reconsidering his life choices.
The Service:
The staff at Montalto were nothing short of exceptional—warm, knowledgeable, and seamless in their service. They guided us through the tasting with genuine enthusiasm, offering insightful details about each wine while making the experience feel effortless and engaging.
The Wine – Shiraz as the Standout:
While every wine was impressive, the Shiraz was the undisputed star. Rich and expressive, it unfolded in layers of dark berries, spice, and velvety tannins, striking the perfect balance between depth and elegance. It was the kind of wine that lingered on the palate and in the memory—though perhaps for Mike, it lingered more as an unfulfilled longing.
Final Thoughts:
Montalto Estate is a place where everything feels thoughtfully curated, from the warm hospitality to the exceptional wines, fresh garden-to-table cuisine, and even the subtle charm of locally made soy candles. Whether you’re indulging in every sip or practicing saint-like restraint (Mike, we salute you), Montalto is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the best of the Mornington Peninsula.
Rating: 5/5 (A flawless blend of hospitality, atmosphere, and world-class wine—even for those on a drinking hiatus!)
The $70 "Feed Me" special in the Piazza was varied and filling and the wines were excellent. The pizzas and other menu items being served looked delicious. Service was 'spot on' and the outdoor seating on the day we visited was excellent, shaded with views overlooking the vineyard.
The walk through the sculpture park was enjoyable and needed after a very satisfying meal.
 We then went for a walk in the wide space in the vineyard and were greeted with sculptures and fine weather.
All in all Montalto is a great stop in Red Hill region.
We have booked the private picnics before, and the set menu experience in the restaurant a bunch of times.
The picnic food was mostly cold 🥹 feel like not worth the $$, I really liked the concept tho, and the environment was amazing, suitable for a nice date or girls' day out.
The food tho, was a bit mid this time. The mussels were fishy. The beef roast was overcooked a bit too. The starter bread and butter was my favourite.
We would definitely come back, will update my rating in the future if my opinion changes.
Loved taking photos in the winery, and loved how family friendly it was.
 A scrumptious meal that we all truly enjoyed and of course, the weather was icing on the cake! We didn't have time to wander about but I sure hope to be back for that some day!
 
 We had luxury experience vouchers and we choose to go a Montalto.
We had a wine tasting at the start our host very knowledgeable and we appreciate it the time she spend with us explaining all the wines.
After the tasting we been moved to the piazza restaurant for our meal. Really nice experience food was delicious nice service and great wine.
Thank you for your hospitality
We loved our day here and will be copying the gift idea for any future weddings we go to!
 
 Wine tasting was a nice experience upstairs followed by a three course set lunch in the piazza area.
Wines were nice and we were given extra as we asked to try some stronger reds.
The food was enjoyable too and well portioned. All round it was a good experience.
A beautiful show case of food. We dined at The Restaurant and you are served a set menu for a fixed price. There are options to have wine pairings with each course at a higher price or order by the bottle or by the glass (we ordered by the glass). There are also a couple of options for additional sides, choice of two, for an extra price (we ordered an extra side of a tiger prawn). Each dish was a sharing dish with enough food for the number of people seated at your table. A dining session is approximately two hours and this was our only complaint…we felt rushed at the beginning of our meal and still had 45 minutes to spare at the end of the meal before we officially had to leave. The food itself was delicately prepared. Every ingredient was familiar and, therefore, not daring us to eat it. Instead, the chefs highlighted how every day ingredients (carrots, beans, fish, lamb, snow peas, sugar snap peas, bread, butter) can be raised up to something more. Vegetables were showcased in their own dishes with magnificence without the need for a protein. The fish and the lamb were beautiful. The staff were excellent. The venue was fine dining but relaxed. The dining room has a lovely view over the valley and the surround hills. After lunch we explored the sculpture trail (which is also well worth the visit). Bookings are essential (we had to book approximately 2 weeks in advance to get the sitting time we preferred). Price point to food quality and service was excellent.
 
 When we arrived to the picnic area, it was set out beautifully and so private. We had blankets to snuggle in and when we opened the little fridge, there were gigantic, perfectly prepared prawns ready to eat. There was also beautiful olive oil and bread to dip, a veggie plate with prosciutto and hummus. The main was chicken in a tomato sauce with a smoked barramundi salad, roast potatoes and fresh veggies. Dessert was a lemon curd with meringue and berries. Just stunning! Thank you so much guys!
Wine tastings is first up, good selections & great staff. However after leaving to go to the picnic site it went downhill from there. Upon arriving to our site it was crawling in black ants despite trying to remove them we ended up covered in bites. The site was unmaintained & a sculpture near our site had used nappies in it. We had No instructions on what to do or expect & no menu provided!
The 1st board was a lot of bread & 1 small dip / veggies. It was underwhelming.
The “main” was chicken that tasted like it was in pizza base sauce & came with average sides such as 4 prawns that really didn’t go with the meal. The food has elements you could taste were either from a can or jar. Had the same experience 2 years earlier, disappointed nothing has changed. Save your time & money don’t bother with a picnic.
We started with a wine tasting - helpful, friendly, and informative explanations from the staff. Great selection of wines too. We were impressed with the number of varieties.
Afterwards, we had the set lunch at the restaurant (vs the casual dining outside which is available for walk ins).
It was probably one of the best meals we’ve had in the Melbourne area! The dishes were all delightful but the vegetables grown on the property really stole the show. The views of the vineyards from the dining room were just icing on the cake.
I can’t recommend this spot enough!
We selected the Latest Release wine tasting which they are quite interesting in flavors and textures.
They also have restaurant & pizza as well as picnics package. They also provide other experiences to fulfill your wine experience at Montalto.
Having dined at Society and Gimlet in the days prior, I can confidently say the Montalto offering is up there with the best of them. It represents excellent value for money at $115 pp for the multi-course meal and is just a really nice way to spend an afternoon.
 We went for the "Feed Me" option at $70 per person. The food was tasty & enjoyable but a little over priced for what it was.
The accompanying bottle of red wine that we bought was excellent & good value.
An overall enjoyable experience, staff were attentive & helpful.
Lovely views down the hill and vin yards. Cool little sculpture trail as well down the side past the lake and river and up the other side. Nice touch.
The restaurant is great and staffs are kind.
They also have a huge farm area to walk around after lunch or wine tasting.
Location is also good, so there are many places and good beaches to visit together.
								
								
								
								








































